08 January 2011

The $500 Triangle Fire Poetry Contest (topic: the immigrant women who died in Triangle factory, NY)

Post date: 08 January 2011

Deadline: 14 February 2011

(Note: this contest is free to enter for legal residents of Colorado, Maryland, North Dakota and Vermont)

A century ago, 146 workers – mostly immigrant women – died as flames engulfed the floors where they worked at the Triangle Shirtwaist Company factory in New York City. The ensuing public 0utcry against unsafe work conditions was covered in detail in the pages of the Jewish Daily Forward by poet Morris Rosenfeld.

Rosenfeld’s portrayal of the brutal effects of employee expl0itation led to a trial of the factory’s owners, a greater push to unionize the garment trade and the establishment of new labor laws designed to protect workers.

But did these events eradicate sweatshops?

Lead to equality of opportunity for women?

Change attitudes toward immigrants?

End expl0itation of the poor?

Triangle Factory Victims

The Forward is accepting original, unpublished English and Yiddish poems that address these questions or reflect upon the tragic fire’s meaning and legacy. A distinguished panel of judges will select a winning poem in each language to receive a $500 cash prize and to be published in the Forward.